COLUMBUS, Ohio—The game had been over for only a couple of minutes, and Herculez Gomez already was in high demand.

The U.S. national team forward answered a few quick questions in an on-field interview broadcast on the Columbus Crew Stadium video board and then headed toward the locker room. He showered, dressed and one was one of the first American players to emerge, at which point he was surrounded by reporters in the mixed zone—first English-speaking, then Spanish.

Gomez was whisked away for a few minutes, perhaps for a TV appearance and then returned to answer more questions. He might well have been the last U.S. player to get on the team bus, which was flanked by fans and autograph seekers.

The clamor wasn’t surprising—after all, Gomez had just scored the only goal in the Americans’ critical 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Jamaica—but it was fascinating nevertheless.

A few months ago, Gomez was in exile. He was so far down Jurgen Klinsmann’s depth chart he wasn’t even in touch with the U.S. coach, despite his success with Mexican club Santos Laguna. When asked Tuesday night if he ever doubted that he might once again be the center of attention following a national team game, the 2010 World Cup veteran was succinct: “Absolutely. How could I not?”

Gomez’s transition from has-been to hero encapsulates the narrative that defined the national team’s rebound from last week’s humbling and frustrating 2-1 loss to Jamaica in Kingston.

Mistakes are made. Players are cast aside or ignored. But Klinsmann has demonstrated a genuine ability to recognize his own failings and forgive players for theirs, while maintaining a willingness to try something new. That flexibility played a significant role in the tactical changes that proved so effective Tuesday in Columbus and in the team’s composition.

There’s still no certainty that Klinsmann’s ideas and methods ultimately will prove successful, but at least there’s room for growth.

“You have to give Jurgen tons of credit because I’ve been with coaches who just, for whatever reason, won’t change and they’ll stick with theirs,” Gomez told Sporting News during his second pass through the Crew Stadium mixed zone. “He really wants what’s best for this team. It’s not about him. It’s not always the prettiest thing, but I think he’s been effective for us and it’s very contagious and we want to keep building on this.”

Klinsmann made multiple changes to the tactics and lineup that failed in Jamaica. Not every coach is eager to acknowledge the deficiencies in his own plan, even if the evidence is overwhelming. But Klinsmann took his medicine and re-arranged the American midfield, which forced two of his preferred players, Kyle Beckerman and Maurice Edu, to the bench.

Danny Williams started in defensive midfield for the first time, Jermaine Jones pushed up and Jose Torres and Graham Zusi served as outlets on the flanks. The increased composure offered by Torres and Zusi allowed the U.S. to hold the ball long enough to bring outside backs Steve Cherundolo and Fabian Johnson into the attack.

That time and width made all the difference. The Jamaicans were exceedingly fortunate to be level at halftime. The U.S. hit the woodwork on three occasions and certainly would have scored once or twice before intermission had the chances fallen to more reliable finishers.

“We need to be able to adapt, you know? Obviously the last game, it didn’t work out very well for us and we needed to change,” U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra said. “Today we came out and did it, and it worked out well for us.”

Said Torres, who didn’t play in Kingston, “You learn from your mistakes. ... I think today the team had a different mind. We came out strong.”

Torres clearly learned from his. He was miserable in his previous outing with the U.S.—last month’s exhibition win over Mexico—and it wouldn’t have been a surprise if he was left off the current roster entirely. Klinsmann even criticized Torres publicly, telling reporters, "Jose is at a stage where we would like to see him taking over more responsibilities, taking more control of the game and also making more decisive passes or plays in a game. ... The message to him is very simple. He needs just to do more and to have more influence on the game.”

Torres got the message. Playing in a wider role than he did against Mexico, he had a bit more room to work with Tuesday but also was willing to throw his body around more frequently to slow bigger, stronger opponents. In the 33rd minute, he raced down the left wing, bravely tackled the ball away from a Jamaican midfielder and helped set up a play that nearly led to a great scoring chance for Gomez.

Torres and Gomez weren’t the only influential players who, at one time or another, either were in Klinsmann’s doghouse or out of the picture entirely. Brek Shea fell out favor during the spring but has been given another shot and should prove useful off the bench. He played the final 22 minutes Tuesday.

Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) and defender Geoff Cameron (then with the Houston Dynamo and now with Stoke City in England) were called up to the national team’s annual January camp, which typically is reserved for players based in MLS or on the national team fringe. They started Tuesday night in the most important game of Klinsmann’s tenure, and both played well. Zusi was instrumental in the Americans’ dominance on the right wing, helping to create the space that allowed Cherundolo to maraud so effectively.

“It’s important to not only have flexibility and give guys opportunities, but that everyone takes advantage of it,” goalkeeper Tim Howard told Sporting News. “It kind of ebbs and flows, and it doesn’t always work out on the night. But certain players got a chance, and they proved their worth.”

The fact the manager made room on his roster, and in his mind, for those players is significant and should send a message.

“If guys in MLS don’t see Graham getting a look and making an impact and seeing that as an opportunity, I don’t know what they’re thinking,” Gomez said. “I think Jurgen’s shown that everybody has a chance to play for this team as long as you can be an integral part of it, do your part and bring that effort.”

Klinsmann returned the compliment, calling Gomez a “role model” because of his “hunger to succeed and score, but also that willingness to suffer.” This was a player who wasn’t worth a phone call six months ago.

The U.S. has suffered already in its World Cup qualifying campaign.

It has scored only six goals in four games and is tied with Jamaica and Guatemala at 2-1-1 with two games to go in this semifinal round—a stage the Americans negotiated easily in the past. Klinsmann shares some of the blame for that slow start, and it’s clear that not every decision he makes will be correct. But his willingness to set his own ego aside, to take chances and to change his mind about tactics and personnel are assets that his players clearly appreciate and that paid dividends Tuesday night, when the U.S. desperately needed to win.